THREE preferred sites for a new primary school in the central area have been officially identified by Swindon Council.

The council needs to open a new 210-place school in 2014 to meet growing demand for places, and plans to consult on the possible sites between January and April 2011.

The current options are the Broadgreen Centre, in Salisbury Street, the site of the nursery beside the Civic Offices, in Euclid Street, and empty land which used to be a council depot, just off County Road.

Coun David Renard, Swindon Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said he wants people to explain which site they prefer – or suggest any other sites which may have been overlooked.

He said: “The main thing is to have a constructive discussion across the whole of the town centre area, with residents and with prospective parents who might send their children to this school, as to where it ought to be, and how it should be managed and addresses access issues.

“Clearly when you are building a school in an already developed area, as we found with the Croft school, access is probably something likely to be the main issue of concern.

“But the fact is we have got pupils already living in the area aged from newborn to four and we do need somewhere for them to go to school.

“We would like residents to come forward with a positive contribution, explaining why they would prefer one site over another. What we don’t want to get to is a situation where we have got campaigns against all three and we have to make a decision in that sort of environment.”

The sites were approved by Coun Renard following feasibility studies. Swindon Council’s cabinet will be asked to approve the consultation this coming Wednesday.

Karon Leakey, of Salisbury Street, who is also chairman of the Broad Street Area Community Council, said residents generally preferred the County Road site.

She said: “From our information gathering so far, people don’t want the school at the Broadgreen Centre because people don’t want to lose their space.

“And we were told that the community facility that would be put there would be like-for-like, but I understand there would only be a hall there and possibly use of the school in the evenings, which is not like-for-like.”

Coun Stan Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said his preferred site was also County Road because it is nearest to the homes of the future pupils and has some benefits, mainly its proximity to the football ground, running track, cricket pitch, and car park.

He said people did not want to see the nursery site developed because of concerns about increased congestion, proximity to two other schools, and the need to re-built the nursery and remove the nearby play area.

A report on the final preferred option will be presented to cabinet for approval in June or July.